Tempest plugs

Radar Contact said:
I’m no expert. Did some research and decided on 24 Tempest Massive’s for my bird. Been good for a couple hundred hours. Remind me in a few more years and I’ll give you a better longevity PIREP.
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Any updates on your plugs? Mine are still sparking nicely and look very good 5 years later
 
I have 12 Tempest UHB32E's in my new engine and have had two fail.
There is no visible damage to the electrodes or ceramic.
We are at 80 hours on them now.
I checked one for ohms on the center electrode and it's open (any time I test plugs they show 1-3 MΩ)
I'm not going to ask about warranty, can't imagine that would be useful.

One failed as I was entering the blackest mountain area at night. Thankfully no weather and running on one mag stopped all roughness - nearest airport was home base.
 
Have over 600 hours on a set of fine wire Tempest in a 0-200. One failure at the 550 hr point.. This year I put in 4 new ones in bottom holes at annual.
 
Lachlan said:
A lot of people run them on the bottom, massives on top. Some run them all the way around.
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That's what I do. I've found the top plugs do not foul, and massive electrodes are fine there.
 
LWGII said:
That's what I do. I've found the top plugs do not foul, and massive electrodes are fine there.
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Years ago I started leaning more aggressively and I have never fouled a plug since. All massive electrode, both top & bottom. By "aggressively" I should say "properly" because the leaning method is consistent with the airplane and engine POH guidance. Full rich only when you are using 70% or higher power at or near sea level (below 3000' DA or whatever the POH says). That means leaning to near the idle cutoff during ground operations, full rich for takeoff near sea level, and leaning the mixture right after you pull back the throttle - even if you are flying at low altitude near sea level you don't need full rich during cruise. If you continue an extended full throttle climb to altitude, lean as you climb through 3000 feet (or whatever the POH says).

Too many pilots (not necessarily you, just generally speaking) leave the mixture knob full forward all the time whenever they're below 5000 feet. That wastes fuel, fouls plugs, gunks up the engine, promotes carb icing, and causes unnecessary pollution.
 
I ground lean until the engine starts to run rough then enrichen just until it runs smooth. My lower plugs look much better since I began that procedure.
 
I've got about 300 hours on a set of tempest plugs in my o-520. center electrode is already getting football shaped. I am not sure they will make it to 500 hours.
 
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